Flax and Linseed - Industrial Crops: Breeding for BioEnergy and Bioproducts - page 254

for an EU Approved List for flax), there may still be difficulties in getting dual-
purpose varieties approved on the Common Catalogue if they do not meet VCU
criteria for “flax” types. Therefore, some consideration should be given at national
level to develop simple descriptive lists for Linum which had rates or grades for
their main characteristics. The development of protocols for testing such diverse
types would require some thought and discussion, because, for instance, flax and
linseed types are sown at different seed rates. In the UK, no VCU criteria exist for
hemp or flax for fiber, as no varieties have been registered. However information on
the criteria in relation to flax quality was available from the Netherlands. UK's
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) should give consid-
eration to the VCU criteria and the possibility of developing simple descriptive
National Lists. If processing subsidies and an approved list continue to exist for
flax, then Defra should give attention to making sure that UK growers are not
disadvantaged through exclusion of varieties which do not conform to the type of
variety preferred in France and Belgium, but would otherwise be suitable for UK
production of flax fiber [ 158 ].
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